The Link 3 - The Huntress

Chapter 14 - Teegan

"Uncle Hank!" I shouted on my way down the stairs. I had no idea how he knew where I was, but I didn't care. There he was in the rotunda with the smile I remembered. Caleb was having breakfast with Kato who had spent the night. I decided to let them talk music since Kato was leaving in an hour. It meant a lot to Caleb so it meant a lot to me.

"If it isn't my wealthy niece," Hank said, holding his arms wide. The bear hug made me feel younger, something I desperately wanted to be for a moment. All that had happened made me cherish the days when homework was my greatest enemy.

"How did you find me?" I asked, after giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Let's see," Hank began, "was it the newspaper, maybe the TV news."

"That's right, I stopped watching," I said.

"Of course, it could have been the military," Hank said seriously. My anger flared for a moment, then I beat it back down. It took a second to convince Caleb to stay where he was, that all was well.

"You're working for them again?"

"Only as a peacemaker. Would you believe I am supposed to apologize? Begging for forgiveness was not left off the to-do list."

"They got Jason killed," I said sternly, then shook my head, "but if an apology lets me see you, then I'll suffer through it." I took him to the library where we could talk more comfortably.

"They had no idea that the soldier would do what he did," Hank said, "In fact, it made them review the entire company to see where they went wrong. It looks like he was tied to some cult out of Seattle."

"The Welcome Word of the Lord?" I asked.

"How did you know?" Hank said.

"We're looking into it as well," I replied.

"They are a pretty closed group," Hank continued, "The military has the FBI looking into them, but the FBI isn't convinced that it was anything more than a single crazy. The local police are closing the case on that theory. It's difficult to condemn an entire religion for the acts of one man."

"The military wants something from me," I said.

"They would like to assign you a liaison," Hank said. "From what I understand, you were agreeable to this before the incident. They know you can hide behind your money easily enough."

"Who would they assign?"

"Captain Garcia," Hank replied. "If you request it, he's been ordered to bond with you as well."

"Ordered?"

"It will kill his career," Hank continued."Compromised officers do not fit well in the chain of command."

"Is that what they think? That the bond is some kind of mind control?"

"You have to see it from their side," Hank said. "I understand Caleb had a whole unit on their knees against their will."

"What do you think?" I asked.

"I think you should tell them to jump in the lake," Hank said.

"Then they'll fear me."

"They fear everything. That's their job," Hank reasoned. I thought about it. My new wealth could shield me from the military, but that wouldn't allay their fears. I already had enough trouble with one organization and didn't want to stir up another. If it were on my terms, it could be controlled. Caleb's thoughts mixed with my own. Garcia was a known quantity.

"I believe it may be better if we compromised," I said. "Caleb agrees that we have too many enemies, and we wouldn't mind defusing one of them."

"Are you sure? I thought you wanted them out of your life."

"Maybe it's time to bring people together," I said, remembering Kato's words. "They need a level of trust, and I need them off my back. Who knows, maybe we can put their resources to work for us."

"The military is interested in securing America, not Teegan Fuller," Hank said.

"Well, I'm an American and obviously important to them. Their FBI connections could be important to me. I give - they give." I said, folding my hands in my lap. The power that money brings was molding my thoughts. Everything was resolving to a negotiation.

"Captain Garcia was worried that you may not want him back. Something about wanting to keep his wits intact." Hank said.

"I guess we did scare him a bit," I said, letting my smile grow. "At the time, he deserved it for bringing an assassin with him." I didn't want to fully forgive him, but I also believed he wasn't intentionally responsible. A little pain was in order. "See if Captain Garcia would like to meet me here next Tuesday. I can have a room fixed for him here, or he can choose other accommodations."

"Tuesday?" Hank said, noticing my sly smile.

"I'm checking in on Jason's Mother on Tuesday. It will be good for him to see the ramifications of the military's carelessness." I said.

"Ouch," Hank said, with a tilt of his head. "That will certainly set the tone of the arrangement. "

"I bonded with Jason, Hank. I mean, I was in his mind while he died." I said, trying to keep my eyes from welling up. I had cried enough and Jason wouldn't have wanted that. "It hurt so bad I thought I might go with him. Needless to say, I feel little mercy for those that caused it."

"I'm so sorry," Hank said, his eyes drooping like a sad grandfather.

"I will find the people responsible. If the military and FBI can help me with that, then so be it," I said.

"Use each other," Hank said, nodding his head slowly. "I'll arrange the meeting." I smiled to soften his grim look now that the important things had been decided.

"So, how is your wife?" I asked. That brought his smile out again. We spent some time talking about the past, laughing at things that were important back then, but are silly now. It brought back my desire to see my Mom and Dad. Caleb felt the same way so we silently agreed to head back to Maine the next day. What's the point of having money if you can't fritter some of it away to see the people you love? I did own a plane after all.

*****

"Should we call first?" Caleb asked, then internally took it back before I shook my head. It was strange, verbally verifying our thoughts when it was so unnecessary. It did make them stronger and signaled that we believed them more important than the million other thoughts that ran through our minds.

"Not after what Cruthers said. Our phones were bugged, maybe theirs are too." I sighed. Then the past came back to me, and I smiled. "My dad will know we're coming anyway."

"Will he keep it quiet?"

"He's smart enough to know I would call if I wanted the world to know," I replied. "Besides, I can open up a bit and try to share our concern. I certainly don't want this to become a sideshow with the press anyway."

"I still think you need to speak with the press at some time," Caleb said.

"Maybe later, when this threat is gone. I don't want to accidently create more targets," I said. Caleb and I shared quick images of a press conference blowing up. Mine was outside, his inside a building that collapsed. Neither was pleasant.

"I want to go swimming," Caleb said, taking my hand. I smiled at his desire to end our grim thoughts.

"You just want me naked," I said, following him willing.

"The thought never entered my mind," Caleb lied. He knew I knew what entered his mind, delicious images of our wet weightless tangled nakedness.